rough (up)

verb

Definition of rough (up)next
1
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to abuse
to abuse physically the photographer claimed that he had been roughed up by the actor's bodyguards outside the club

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough (up)
  1. lick
  2. abuse
  3. hide
  4. attack
  5. pound
  6. ambush
  7. lash
  8. manhandle
Verb
  • Philcox-Littlefield enhanced that attitude by playing a growling baritone guitar instead of the light Memphis soul licks featured in the demo.
    Tom Roland, Billboard, 26 Nov. 2024
  • His red lips are freshly licked, and his eyes shoot out at us as vigorously as his cigar.
    Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of lick
Verb
  • The University of Chicago has long abused its architectural treasures.
    Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Dec. 2024
  • On Tuesday, lawmakers approved a special counsel to investigate whether Yoon committed insurrection and abused his power by issuing martial law.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of abuse
Verb
  • But of course, around them hiding in forests and hills and woods are the infected.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The alleged cheaters in France used simple techniques to conceal their cameras, like hiding the devices in their clothing, but much more robust options exist on the open market.
    Ben Dowsett, WIRED, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of hide
Verb
  • Governments around the world have trained eagles to attack unmanned aircraft.
    Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
  • That is to say, a ceasefire in Ukraine where Russia keeps the occupied territories for now in exchange for Israel getting the green light to neutralize the Iran threat by attacking the Mullah regime inside and outside the country.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of attack
Verb
  • But, that reality doesn’t stop the evangelists from pounding their chests and boldly declaring that everything from babies to Roombas should be put on chain.
    Jordan Yallen, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
  • There’s just something hot about a man, woman, or they/them who can pound the drums with precision and skill and provide a constant, stable, rhythmic beat for their fellow band members’ somewhat more theatrical, look-at-me musical skills.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 2 Dec. 2024
Definition of pound
Verb
  • Thompson was ambushed and shot around 6:45 a.m. while walking alone from a nearby hotel to the New York Hilton Midtown, police said.
    Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Officer Cooper Dawson, 27, was running after a suspect following a traffic stop Monday night when that suspect ambushed Dawson and shot him multiple times, according to the Greenville Police Department.
    Andy Rose, CNN, 28 Nov. 2024
Definition of ambush
Verb
  • But right now, the Chargers might be lashed to a log, helplessly bobbing toward a Buffalo buzz saw.
    Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
  • While some destinations in Spain have lashed out against tourism recently, notably the Balearic and Canary Islands, Barcelona, and Málaga, foreign residents don’t report feeling discriminated against.
    Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of lash
Verb
  • The Raiders won the past two playoff games by manhandling North Miami 58-0 and dispatching a feisty Blanche Ely team 53-32 last week.
    Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024
  • On Saturday, Indiana played Ohio State and got manhandled 38-15.
    Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
Definition of manhandle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near rough (up)

roughs (up)

rough (up)

rouging

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Rough (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.

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